Whether you spent Valentine's day all by yourself or with a beau, you probably had to endure a terrifically freezing Sunday, and it's not yet over.
Record-breaking temperatures had begun to shiver through the East Coast on Feb. 13, and will continue to sweep the region until Feb. 16. The National Weather Service (NWS) had already issued winter storm watches from across Northern Georgia to the mid-Atlantic states.
Boston experienced its chilliest day in almost 60 years at a temperature of -9 degrees Fahrenheit, while New York City set historic temperatures when it plummeted to -1 degrees Fahrenheit on Valentine's day.
Far north, the temperature in Toronto dropped to -16 degrees Fahrenheit.
When strong winds were added to the picture, regions from Northern Pennsylvania to Maine were hit with chilly winds well below zero.
In total, more than 75 million residents in the Midwest to the Eastern Seaboard are predicted to be affected by freezing rain and snow until Tuesday.
Brace Yourselves For Harsh And Dangerous Weather
Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City urged the public to be prepared for dangerous conditions as the city is facing the coldest temperatures that hit it since the 1990s.
"Extremely cold weather can be life-threatening -- especially for seniors, infants and people with medical conditions," said de Blasio.
De Blasio had deployed more than 300 workers to help provide shelter for the homeless and deal with the complaints of residents about hot water and heating.
He thanked the first responders to the situation, saying that there are no reports to date of any fatalities in the city.
Moving From The Souththeast To The Northeast
The Northeast will not be immune to the biting weather, as another winter storm is predicted to develop on Feb. 15 in the Southeast and will move to the Northeast on Feb. 16.
It will ease for a while on Monday but will make traveling a mess for people coming from North Carolina to the Northeast.
Meteorologists said the heaviest snow will possibly fall from Tennessee to the interior Northeast, near the eastern Great Lakes and the Appalachians.
For Raleigh, N.C., forecasts predict an inch or more of snow, sleet and freezing rain.
In Washington, D.C., and Fairfax, Virginia, forecasts reveal 1 to 3 inches of sleet and snow. The same goes for Philadelphia.
In Berlin, Connecticut, authorities have opened a warming center after outages on natural gas were reported on several streets. The area is struggling with wind chills and single-digit temperatures.
"Everyone else in the family can go to McGee Middle School, which is open as a warming center," the town's police department said.
Pileup In Pennsylvania And Indiana
In Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, terrible visibility and intense snow both factored into a fatal pileup that involved at least 60 vehicles on Saturday.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, at least three people were dead in the pileup on Interstate 78 and more than 70 people were injured.
"It was definitely a whiteout," said Raoul Jardine of Allentown. "I couldn't see any farther than probably two city blocks."
Parts of I-78 were still closed on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, a part of Interstate 65 in Indiana was also closed on Sunday after about 40 vehicles were involved in a series of crashes. No fatalities were reported.
"The roadways throughout Central Indiana are snow covered and hazardous," the state police said. "Only travel if necessary, reduce your speed significantly and allow ample space between you and the vehicle in front of you."
Signs And Symptoms Of Frostbite
As frigid weather conditions peak, the NWS released warning about the dangers of frostbite. When it strikes, ice crystals can form on a person's skin. The skin begins to feel warm, even though it hasn't melted or defrosted yet.
Skin with frostbite can have a waxy appearance and then turn red, white or pale. Finally, the skin can turn dark blue, black or gray. It will cause pain that may last for several hours, the NWS said.
